As the final weekend bash of the summer approaches, local officials are encouraging driving safety for residents who plan on traveling to celebrate Labor Day.
Labor Day is often considered “the unofficial end of the summer season,” according to Monica Jones, safety press officer for PennDOT District 9. Millions of people each year get out of the house and take a trip to take advantage of that last long weekend of the summer.
Brian Wimer, senior meteorologist at Accuweather, said the weather around Blair County will start out rather comfortably on Friday with a good amount of sun and low humidity, before progressively heating up as the weekend goes on. Saturday and Sunday will be more humid and maybe even feature some storms, particularly in the Laurel Highlands on Saturday.
Wimer said that forecast promises at least an enjoyable beginning, and the rain might stay away long enough to not disrupt any outdoor plans on the back half of the holiday.
AAA conducted a nationwide survey and found that more than 30% of responders planned on traveling this weekend. Of those travelers, 82% plan on driving to their destinations.
After a summer dominated by headlines of rising gas prices and widespread inflation, AAA said the survey showed 80% of responders decided to cut back on travel to save money. As prices at the pump have started to descend, travelers are starting to venture back out and create memories on the road.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is estimating roughly 2.8 million people — a 1.5% increase from last year — will use the turnpike to travel across the state during the five-day period spanning from Sept. 1 to 5.
“Labor Day travelers should use extra caution due to increased traffic and distracted drivers,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton in a press release.
Compton said that all forms of distractions — including, but not limited to, texting, talking on the phone, eating, etc. — should be avoided while on the road to ensure the safety of everyone in and around the vehicle.
Jones said drivers should make sure they are 100% alert and buckled up before hitting the road.
According to PennDOT data, there were 945 crashes resulting in 12 deaths statewide over the holiday weekend from Friday through Monday last year. Of those, 106 crashes resulting in four fatalities were alcohol-related and 38 crashes resulting in three fatalities were drug-related.
Underage activity — both alcohol and drugs — are prevalent during the weekend, historically, and Jones encouraged high school and college students to make smart decisions, especially when it comes to getting behind the wheel.
“If you feel different, you drive differently,” Jones said.
During the 2021 Labor Day stretch, state troopers made 587 DUI arrests and investigated 57 alcohol-related crashes.
Jones said law enforcement will again be out in spades throughout the region this year, so “if you’re drinking, have a plan.”
In a press release, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Robert Evanchick encouraged travelers to be cautious on the road this weekend, particularly when drinking.
“Troopers will actively enforce traffic and DUI laws, and we have a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Evanchick said.
If locals have not yet landed on a destination yet, state parks around Blair and Bedford counties are almost fully booked for the weekend. Many visitors book their stay far in advance to ensure there are still options available at parks since sites fill up very quickly for holiday weekends.
According to Prince Gallitzin State Park assistant manager Tim Yeager, Prince Gallitzin’s almost 400-site campground is at 95% capacity.
Several park programs are scheduled throughout the weekend, including a nature trivia night, a boat tour and a sunrise hike on Monday to finish off the holiday. A complete schedule can be found on Prince Gallitzin’s park page on dcnr.pa.gov.
“With the forecasted weather, we’re expecting a good turnout to the park,” Yeager said.
Similarly, at Blue Knob, environmental specialist Jessie Kohan said the campground of 50 sites is completely full, save for five spots on Friday night. All the cabins are also booked for the weekend.
Yeager said there are programs such as an apple cider making session Friday night and a baby animals education program on Saturday night. The pool is also open Saturday through Monday and will close for the season Tuesday.
Local parks will still welcome guests for day visits, but the ship has sailed when it comes to overnight stays, for the most part.
Mirror Staff Writer Nate Powles is at 814-746-9466.
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